How do you stay slim?

I get this question or one very much like it every day. I realize that many people honestly do not know what to eat from these exchanges.

In the spring of 2010, I was about forty pounds overweight. It was a few hours before the stiffness left my joints after getting up in the morning. I did not sleep well, and I often had migraines and sinus infections. I had to take several expensive medications and was facing the possibility of three scary surgeries. I did not wear heels anymore because my feet hurt all the time.

06-24-10

01-25-15

Now when I get up in the morning, there is no pain. I am ready to move well immediately. I am rarely sick, but I did get the flu this past winter. Other than that, I haven't even had a cold in years. I no longer take any medications or have migraines or sinus problems.

The only difference is that I changed my choice of food. I eat various vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts, and fruit. I do not eat meat or processed foods. I avoid all processed vegetable seed oils, cheese, and all dairy. Instead, I drink water with lemon, hot tea (with no sugar), and an occasional glass of wine.

The weight came off in about six months. Then, of course, I go for a long brisk walk when the weather is nice.

My inspiration for eating this way came from reading the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, which helped me learn what foods to eat and why. It isn't a diet. It is the way I choose to eat for the rest of my life because I really enjoy sleeping well, feeling great every day, and having lots of energy. Wearing size 4 jeans is just a bonus. 

               

Saturday - Part One

Saturday was a very full day. As we were going down to visit the Inn's restaurant for breakfast, we ran into some of Mr. Mickey's high school friends who asked us to join them. They were a delightful group!

During the early part of the day, I wore jeans with a white tank from Chico's. The black jacket is from Express. The animal print booties are from Nordstrom. The black belt is from T.J.Maxx. 

After a very relaxing couple's massage at the fabulous Martha SPA, we took a nap before getting dressed to see the play at the Barter Theatre, just across the street from the Inn.

The wind was blowing, and it was quite a bit cooler today, so I wore an asymmetrical red jersey jacket from Nordstrom over the white tank and off white jeans with animal print booties to see the play My Fair Lady.

The flowers along the way were delightful.

We have been to the Barter Theatre many times, but My Fair Lady's performance was the best yet. Holly Williams, as Eliza Doolittle, was outstanding!

We took a quick walk across the grounds of the Inn as a storm threatened to arrive before we made it to the porch.

Now I just have enough time to get dressed for cocktails before our dinner date.

I sometimes ask the chef for a vegetarian dish if there isn't anything on the menu that appeals to me. On rare occasions, I will order a pasta dish or something with fresh local fish.

Many restaurants here in the east offer lots of meat and potatoes in hearty portions but not many vegan dishes. Sometimes the best option is a baked sweet potato with a salad. I will always return to my regular eating habits on Monday, so these little weekend trips don't get a chance to do much damage. Drinking lots of water and eating a salad are my keys to maintaining when there isn't anything on the menu that I want to order.

The hearty breakfast I eat ensures that I have almost enough nutrition to carry me through the day. I rarely feel hungry until around two or three in the afternoon. A salad or a small plate of steamed vegetables is enough for an early dinner/late lunch. Many times when your body gives you a hungry signal, it is actually water that you need. I drink lots of water all day.

Wear It Wednesday: Routine

Many of you have asked about my daily routine and what I eat. About three years ago I lost forty pounds. If I stray from the routine outlined below, I immediately start to see the weight creep back on.

A long walk every day is an essential part of my physical and mental health. The earlier, the better! I normally walk/run/jog three miles at about six o'clock every morning in the warmer months. In the colder months, I walk in the warmest part of the day. I move around as much as possible during the day and never take the parking spot closest to my destination. That's it for exercise.

Two cups of tea before my walk is part of every morning—no cream or sugar.

During the day, I sip bottled water with either fresh lime or lemon juice squeezed into it. No ice or sugar. (The bottled water is distributed by Mr. Mickey's company.)

I often make a green smoothie using frozen peas, kale (Russian Kale shown here is my favorite), a banana, yeast flakes (for B12), almond milk, yogurt, and a teaspoon of some flavor of All Fruit by Polaner for sweetness.

I use this plain yogurt as if it were mayonnaise, sour cream, or ice cream, depending upon what I am adding it to.

I have half of the smoothie with breakfast and the other half at lunch. I just put the blender in the fridge until lunch and then give it another whirl on the blender base to remix it.

I have some version of this hot cereal every morning with whatever fruit is in season. The recipe is here.

I sometimes crave a bite of dark chocolate, so I will have one truffle occasionally.

Dates with yogurt are one of my favorite desserts!

Lunch is normally more kale cut up in small ribbons (julienned) with whatever vegetables I have in the fridge. Heirloom tomatoes from my parent's garden are the centerpiece of every lunch right now. I eat vegetables raw whenever possible. Purple Japanese sweet potatoes or quinoa are often part of my lunch. Here is another version of lunch.

A little olive oil and balsamic vinegar are the only condiments I add to salads. Fresh herbs and garlic also give some added flavor. Eating whatever is in season and local as often as possible is my goal. I also buy organic if it is available. On rare occasions, I may eat a piece of chicken or fish if I am at a restaurant I know serves free-range or wild-caught.

Lunch is at about two in the afternoon. I try to eat nothing after three in the afternoon. If it is date night or some other social occasion in the evening, I will order a salad and a glass of wine. I am mindful of portions at all meals, but I eat the least amount of food possible in the evenings.

Food is nourishment, not entertainment, not therapy, not reward. If I eat high nutrient foods during the earlier part of the day, I rarely feel hungry in the evening. I sleep much better when I go to bed with an empty stomach. I also feel less hungry the whole next day.

For more information about healthy eating, read these books:

'Eat to Live' by Doctor Joel Furhman

'Clean' by Doctor Alejandro Junger

Wear It Wednesday ... The Skin You're In

Looking your best starts with glowing skin.

When I posted this photo a few weeks ago, there were numerous comments about my skin and my courage to be in a closeup with a woman who may not even be twenty yet. That's me with Abby Hathorn who is also a blogger at VintageInspiredPassionista. (There is no filter on the camera and I do not even know how to use Photoshop.) My skin is not as firm and smooth as Ms. Hathorn's, but I will be fifty-eight in three months and is about twenty years old.

I have also been asked many times about my skincare routine for the whole body, not just the face.

Our skin is constantly shedding and flaking off as new cells replace old ones. We often add oils and lotions to our skin, which also produces its own natural oils. The cells that should flake off can't, which leaves our skin not looking so smooth and clear. The skin can look a bit ashy instead of clean and bright or even break out because of trapped oils.

The secret weapons for my best skin include a natural bristle body brush, clean washcloth, olive oil, or coconut oil.

This natural bristle brush comes with a detachable handle and can be found in most drug stores as well as Walmart. I use the brush on my body before each shower. Sit down and relax while gently rubbing the brush in small circles over your whole body except for the face. Start with the feet and always work toward your heart. This sloughs off dead skin cells but also helps with circulation.

Hot water on a clean washcloth massaged into my face each morning feels wonderful. I use hot tap water as warm as my hands can tolerate and massage my face with the cloth until it starts to cool. Repeat this eight times. Follow with eight cold massages. Splash with cool water and then dry. 

Before bed each night, massage olive oil or coconut oil onto your face and body. After about five minutes, it has been absorbed, and your skin will feel smooth and soft. 

I use many items from the kitchen for skincare because I experience the least amount of reactions, such as redness and puffiness. A great exfoliant for the face (avoid the eye area) is sugar or salt mixed with your favorite cleanser. I often wear a hat when I am outside for long periods.

What you put in your body is important too! 

This pretty cut glass pitcher full of spring water and the juice of two organic lemons or cucumber slices is the first thing I see when I open my fridge. This is the water I sip all day.

Other items in my fridge are what contribute to healthy skin and body. Fresh fruit, unsalted natural nuts, seeds, and plain Greek yogurt are other items you will almost always find in my fridge. (Lower right corner... I wash grapes and keep them in a colander with a wet paper towel over them to keep them crunchy and fresh tasting.)

Get six or seven hours of sleep each night. Drink a glass of wine occasionally if you wish. Eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. Go for a brisk walk each morning for about a half-hour.

Now you know all my secrets!

How I lost more than forty pounds and healed my body.

Taken at a Victorian Bed and Breakfast in North Carolina.

At the age of fifty-four, I was frumpy, fat, and very unhealthy.

The pictures above were taken about three years ago before I started eating natural, unprocessed foods.

The picture below was taken last month.

I have maintained this weight for over two years. Hundreds of people have asked me how I lost weight and reversed my health problems. The simple answer is that I changed my choice of foods. My health and stamina returned to the levels of my early thirties in just a few months. I will turn fifty-seven this September.

My gentleman friend and I are very active socially, which means we go out to eat and attend lots of parties and functions. As you know, special food is always a part of these social situations. Most of the food served in restaurants and sold in grocery stores in America is highly processed, heavily salted, with lots of added sugar and butter or other fats. This is also why many of my friends started to gain a lot of weight as soon as they came to America.  

After reading the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, I realized that nothing in my daily diet was high in nutrition or provided a sufficient energy source. That's why I was always hungry two hours after I ate!  

I started eating the breakfast described in the post here and at the top of this page under Recipes. Breakfast for me is at about six in the morning. I am often just starting to feel hungry at about one in the afternoon. I have a large leafy green salad with lots of steamed, roasted, or sauteed vegetables at about two in the afternoon.  I use unsalted vegetable broth for cooking instead of butter or oil. My salad dressing is an aged balsamic vinegar. There is no oil, croutons, bread, or cheese served on or with this salad. That's normally my last meal of the day, and I never feel hungry at night. I drink hot tea, water, and occasionally a glass of wine.

This is my diet 95% of the time. I still eat whatever I want when we go out to dinner during the weekends. (I do not eat red meat or pork.) 

It is a simply healthy way of eating, and I never feel that I am missing anything. I don't count calories or go to the gym. The fact that I feel so much better and have so much more energy serves as my motivation to continue to eat like this for the rest of my life.

I hope that by sharing my story, I have given you the motivation to learn more about food and how it can make you feel great or miserable.